Seventh Row is a nonprofit Canadian film criticism publication and publishing house. We're dedicated to helping you expand your horizons by curating the best socially progressive films from around the world and helping you think deeply about them. This newsletter is run by Seventh Row (http://seventh-row.com) but features exclusive content not found on the website.
The best films at TIFF (nobody else is talking about)
Hello Reader,
The Toronto International Film Festival, one of the most important fillm festivals in the world, came to a close last weekend. I saw almost 50 films at the festival, and wrote about some of the very best. Here's a summary of our coverage so far. Almost all of these films are still seeking international distribution, so don't miss them if they come to a film festival near you (the Canadian ones will all come out in Canada, but it remains to be seen if they'll be released abroad).
There's still a bit more TIFF coverage to come. I'll be (hopefully) reviewing three of my favourite films of the festival: Joanna Hogg's unexpected third entry into the Julie Hart trilogy (formerly the The Souvenir and The Souvenir Part II duology), The Eternal Daughter; Alice Winocour's Paris Memories; and Rebecca Zlotowski's Other People's Children.
These were all hotly anticipated films. We wrote the book on The Souvenir. We're working away on a book on Alice Winocour in the future, and named her last film, Proxima, the best film of 2020 (yup, even in the year with First Cow (our #2), which we also wrote the book on). And we loved Zlotwoski's previous film, An Easy Girl, which we discussed in-depth on the podcast (and you can watch worldwide on Netflix). And this one is even better. Other People's Children is seeking North American distribution so catch it if it comes near you!
We've actually got a ton of coverage of Other People's Children rolling out in the next few weeks as it was my #1 film of the festival. This will include an interview with actress Virginie Efira (who also stars Memories and talks about both films) and a very in-depth interview with writer-director Rebecca Zlotowski.
Below, you'll see a summary of my TIFF coverage, which includes reviews of films (almost) all still seeking North American distribution, a list of the best shorts at the festival (watch for these at your local fests), and a list of emerging actors to watch from the festival's selections.
Hope this gives you a sense of what to look forward to in the coming year!
Best,
Alex Heeney
Editor-in-Chief of Seventh Row
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The latest from TIFF22
Stéphane Lafleur on his TIFF film Viking
Published on September 18, 2022
In this career-spanning interview, Québécois writer-director Stéphane Lafleur reflects on the making of his new film Viking and how it fits into his body of work.
Stellar Film Review: It’s the end of the world and the Indigenous leads feel fine
Published on September 16, 2022
Darlene Naponse's new film Stellar is about two Indigenous strangers displaced from their land, who meet at a bar on the night the world may be ending.
Unruly Film Review: women battle patriarchy and eugenics in 1930s Denmark
Published on September 16, 2022
Alex Heeney reviews Malou Reymann's feature film debut, Unruly, which had its world premiere at TIFF 22. Set in 1930s Denmark, mostly on Sprøgo island, which housed an institution for “troubled” and “immoral women,” Unruly never uses the term “eugenics,” but that’s very much its subject.
War Sailor Film Review: A character drama reveals an untold part of WWII history
Published on September 15, 2022
Alex Heeney reviews writer-director Gunnar Vikane’s film War Sailor, which is the best kind of war movie: a character drama that happens amidst war, focusing most on how the characters are changed by the atrocities over the years.
Eo Film Review: A kind-hearted donkey encounters a cruel world
Published on September 15, 2022
In Jerzy Skolimowski’s sharp, inventive, and heartbreaking film Eo, a donkey journeys across Europe, encountering human cruelty at every turn.
TIFF Review: The Swearing Jar is an existential crisis film with two romances
Published on September 12, 2022
Stay tuned for a full review when the film releases in Canad in October.
Alex Heeney reviews Lindsay Mackay's second feature film, The Swearing Jar, an existential crisis film with two romances.
Riceboy Sleeps, Coyote, So Much Tenderness: Canadian immigration stories
Published on September 12, 2022
Three Canadian immigration story films at TIFF 2022 reveal similarities in experiences and film form: Riceboy Sleeps, Coyote, and So Much Tenderness
TIFF Review: Patrick and the Whale
Published on September 9, 2022
Patrick and the Whale is a delightful doc about a man who just wants to be friends with sperm whales.
Ten must-see shorts at TIFF 2022
Published on September 8, 2022
Our annual feature on the best must-see shorts at TIFF 2022 highlights films from around the world and across forms, including Bigger on the Inside and The Flying Sailor.
12 emerging actors at TIFF 2022 to watch
Published on September 8, 2022
In an annual feature, we pick out the emerging actors and screen stars of tomorrow from the TIFF22 lineup, from Grace Dove to Paul Mescal.
Seventh Row
Seventh Row is a nonprofit Canadian film criticism publication and publishing house. We're dedicated to helping you expand your horizons by curating the best socially progressive films from around the world and helping you think deeply about them. This newsletter is run by Seventh Row (http://seventh-row.com) but features exclusive content not found on the website.
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